Liver Cancer

Understand the risk factors, symptoms, and diagnostic process for liver cancer.

The liver is a football-sized organ located in the abdomen that filters blood from other parts of the body. Our team includes doctors, nurses, dietitians, psychiatrists, and social workers, all of whom are here to meet the physical and emotional needs of liver cancer patients and their families.

Risk factors for liver cancer

Liver cancer affects both men and women, but men are more likely to have it. All races/ethnicities are affected. Non-Caucasian people are more commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease.

The most common risk factors include:

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Obesity

While hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and alcohol related liver disease are the most common risk factors, fatty liver disease due to obesity is a growing cause of liver cancer.

Some people falsely believe liver cancer always is caused by excessive alcohol use. This is untrue -- a variety of factors can cause liver cancer. But heavy alcohol use is a risk factor for liver cancer. Studies have shown that heavy alcohol consumption over time can increase the risk of liver cancer significantly.

Liver cancer symptoms

Liver cancer is typically asymptomatic (meaning no symptoms are present) until patients develop advanced stages of the disease. However, once the cancer has grown large enough, it can cause a number of health conditions, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Ascites, or abdominal swelling due to accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity
• Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
• Weight loss

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor. People with a history of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis should be routinely checked for liver cancer.

Types of liver cancer

Our doctors treat all forms of liver cancer. The four main types of liver cancer are:

• Angiosarcoma: a rare type of cancer that starts in the blood vessels of the liver.
• Cholangiocarcinoma (also known as a Klatskin tumor): this tumor begins in the bile ducts and accounts for approximately 13 percent of liver cancers.
• Hepatoblastoma: another rare type of liver cancer that typically affects children.
• Hepatocellular carcinoma: this tumor begins in the main type of liver cells, known as the hepatocytes, and accounts for approximately 84 percent of liver cancers.

Liver cancer diagnosis

We diagnose liver cancer with a variety of medical tests, including:

• Biopsy: we remove a tiny piece of liver tissue with a needle through the skin. A doctor will evaluate the tissue for evidence of cancer.
• Blood tests: we’ll check for anemia and how well your liver functions.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: uses specialized X-rays to create detailed, cross-sectional views of internal organs.
• Laparoscopy: a doctor places a thin tube inside the body through a small incision in the front of the stomach to see the liver and other organs. We were the first health system in Michigan to use this procedure.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a computer analysis that creates detailed images of the organs.
• Ultrasound: we use sound waves to produce images of internal organs on a screen.

Liver cancer treatment

There are many treatments for liver cancer, and if diagnosed early, treatment is often successful.

Beyond treatment, we provide a range of education and support options to all our cancer patients.